Border batsman Marco Marais retired from professional cricket this month. He has been appointed Head of Cricket at Stirling High School in East London.
Marais was the leading run-scorer in the 2024-25 4-Day Domestic Series, division two, at the time of retiring. His penultimate professional innings was 170 against Eastern Province in East London.
“I say goodbye to the game that has given me everything from a very young age. I never thought that the little kid back then, messing around with the cricket bat, would be capable of creating this journey stretching over a decade,” wrote Marais on social media.
“Cricket has taught me a lot of patience, hard work and determination. I am grateful for the support and encouragement, not only from family and friends, but also from the people who followed my journey. The experiences and memories I have gained on and off the field have been nothing short of amazing.
“There have been many highs and a few lows throughout my career, but if I could, I would walk the same path again. Not only did cricket allow me to live my dream, it also allowed me to meet some lifelong friends and mentors. It exposed me to some of the best cricketers in the world and it allowed me to also see parts of the world I never thought would be possible.
“After much reflection and consideration, I have decided to retire from professional cricket. This decision has not been easy as cricket has been a significant part of my life for many years.”
Marais represented the Pretoria Capitals in the SA20 and, in 2017, hit the quickest triple-century in first-class cricket with 300 not out from 191 balls against Eastern Province.